Valentine’s Day 2003 gave Christians in England and Wales good news! 71.7% of the population according to the 2001 Census claimed to be Christians. Dr Peter Brierley of Christian Research writing in the Church of England Newspaper for 20 February wrote that the ‘large majority of the 37 million Christian people will be those who have been baptised in the Church of England’. This was the first time since 1851 that the National Census had asked questions about religion, so perhaps it should be no surprise that previous estimates have been incorrect. In 1980, Canon Eric Saxon, of St Ann’s, Manchester complained in the Church Times about the understating of the strength of the Church of England in comparison with other denominations, by ignoring the baptismal figure of over 27 million included for the year 1976. If the figure 25 years later should be 29 million, as Brierley suggests, this is an increase of 2 million!

For more than a quarter of a century, statisticians and church leaders have generally concentrated on members of their congregations whether counted by Sunday attendance or by being members of Church Electoral rolls. Those living within parish boundaries but outsiders to these ‘church members’ are expected to either swell these figures or have their children refused baptism unless they can justify themselves before the parish clergy with their various baptism policies.

In my proposed Scheme, a positive approach would be required towards those outside each local congregation. If more than 70% or seven out of ten people living in England are declaring themselves to be Christians, Parish churches should think positively that this means being careful to refrain from intrusive examination of those making enquiries about the baptism of their children.

All children living in England should be welcomed for christening irrespective of the religious status of their parents or guardians. This welcome should extend to Holy Communion. All the baptised should be welcomed as communicants. Confirmation should be kept as a separate ordinance for later in life for those wishing to be qualified as adult members of the Church of England. The Bishop would be required for this and, of course, welcome at other times!